The human in multiple, hybrid topologies HUMAN REMAINS THE PLACE OF THE HUMAN IN A POST-HUMAN WORLD Presentation for 4 th Nordic Geographers’ Meeting, Roskilde University, Connie Svabo, PhD, Assistant Professor Space, Place, Mobility and Urban Studies (MOSPUS) Research Unit & Centre for Experience Research (COF) Department of Environmental, Social and Spatial Change (ENSPAC) Roskilde University (RUC)
Mediation, multiplicity, topology Mediation is the process of linking entities, making connections – Concept from Latour, inspired by Serres Multiplicity is the idea that in social reality multiple orders, logics and patterns are at play simultaneously – Concept from Law & Mol, inspired by Serres Topology is ’the science of proximities and ongoing or interrupted transformations’ – Concept Bingham & Thrift, Mol & Law, Latour, Serres
Naturama Museum of natural history annual visits 50% of visitors are under 18 Association of visitors and exhibition
14 months, several later re-visits Observation – 39 days, 21 days in exhibition, the rest in offices – written notes, audio recordings, video recordings, use of spy-wear camera glasses Interviews – 26 on-site visitor interviews + staff interviews Focus increasingly on children and youngsters Method: ethnographic fieldwork
Fellow visitors Exhibition visitor phone camera visitor animal costume visitor exercise pamphlet
Multiple, hybrid topologies and the human in the midst, betwixt and between, at midpoint, intersection, hub, junction, shift, flicker, fluid, gossamer, gauzy, thin, delicate, fibrous, flimsy, sheer, airy, shimmer, sparkle, blitz, diffusion interference, interruption, clamor and hubbub